Technological Nature: Adaptation and the Future of Human Life

Citation

Kahn, P. H. (2011). Technological Nature. In The MIT Press. doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/7983.001.0001

Humans may once have lived in close connection with the natural world, but that relationship is changing. Increasingly, people experience what researchers call “technological nature” — nature that is mediated, augmented, or simulated by technology. Children grow up watching digital nature programs on television, exploring virtual landscapes in video games, and playing with robotic animals purchased at big box stores. Until recently, hunters could even “telehunt,” shooting and killing animals in Texas from a computer anywhere in the world. In his book Technological Nature, psychologist Peter Kahn asks whether this shift matters. He argues that it does, with real consequences for human well-being.

To explore the question, Kahn and his team ran a series of studies on people’s experiences with cutting-edge technological nature. They installed “technological nature windows” (50-inch plasma screens broadcasting real-time, high-definition views of local nature) in offices on a university campus, then measured the physiological and psychological effects on the people who worked there. They studied how children and adults related to AIBO, the robotic dog, including its possible benefits for children with autism. And they examined online “telegardening,” a pastoral counterpart to telehunting.

Across these studies, a consistent picture emerged. When it comes to well-being, technological nature is better than no nature at all, but it is not as good as the real thing. Kahn suggests that technological nature is best developed and used as a bonus on life, not as a substitute for it. The deeper hope is that people will re-envision what is beautiful, fulfilling, and often wild in their relationship with the natural world, and hold onto it even as screens and simulations become a larger part of everyday life.

Abstract

Why it matters that our relationship with nature is increasingly mediated and augmented by technology.

Our forebears may have had a close connection with the natural world, but increasingly we experience technological nature. Children come of age watching digital nature programs on television. They inhabit virtual lands in digital games. And they play with robotic animals, purchased at big box stores. Until a few years ago, hunters could “telehunt”—shoot and kill animals in Texas from a computer anywhere in the world via a Web interface. Does it matter that much of our experience with nature is mediated and augmented by technology? In Technological Nature, Peter Kahn argues that it does, and shows how it affects our well-being.

Kahn describes his investigations of children’s and adults’ experiences of cutting-edge technological nature. He and his team installed “technological nature windows” (50-inch plasma screens showing high-definition broadcasts of real-time local nature views) in inside offices on his university campus and assessed the physiological and psychological effects on viewers. He studied children’s and adults’ relationships with the robotic dog AIBO (including possible benefits for children with autism). And he studied online “telegardening” (a pastoral alternative to “telehunting”).

Kahn’s studies show that in terms of human well-being technological nature is better than no nature, but not as good as actual nature. We should develop and use technological nature as a bonus on life, not as its substitute, and re-envision what is beautiful and fulfilling and often wild in essence in our relationship with the natural world.